Merry-go-round



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheetl.

G. L. BARNHART.

MERRY-GO-ROUND.

No. 539,717. Patented Ma 21, 1895.

Wlfieess'es:

M Chm/zeal 0. L. BARNHART. MERRY-GO-ROUND.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 539,717. Patented May 21, 1895.

UNITEH STATES PATENT CLARENCE L. BARNHART, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.

MERRY-GO-ROUNDf SPECIFICATION" forming part of Letters Patent Nb. 539,717, dated m 21, 1895. Application filed October 20, 1894:. Serial No. 526,460. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. BARNHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan,-have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Merry-Go-Rounds, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. g

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of a ring shaped platform, supported by cables or cords upon a central post or mast,

the cables being connected to a plate to the under side of which depends a ball engaged with a cup shaped cap on the mast, thus forming a ball and socket joint, forming a support for the platform, which may thus be given a circular and gyrating movement around the mast.

The invention further consists in the pecularged section through the platform and the steps to the platform, illustrating the brake. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the brake-actuating lever. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section through the top of the mast, illustrating the construction of the ball-and-socket joint. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bottom.

The platform I preferably form of anumber of sections of the construction shown in Fig. 7, comprising radially extending timbers A, connected together by the sills B, the whole being covered with the flooring O. The outer edge of these sections is provided with a circular depending rail D, preferably having a railing plate D on its under side. These sections are secured together by the tie plates E, extending across the timbersA of the adjoining sections, as plainly shown in Fig. '7 and secured thereto, by screws or bolts. Upon the upper face of the platform on each edge rating it into the sections which can be easily packed and shipped. The seats may likewise 'be folded and movably secured to the plat- .form.for the same purpose.

H is a mast having suitable braces H which forms the support for the platform. At the top this mask is provided with a cupshaped cap I, shown in detail in Fig. 6, in which are a series of balls J. J is a ring shaped cover for the cup to prevent the dislengagement of the balls and bearing above the center line of the ball shaped-head K which fits into the cup shaped cap I and rests on the balls therein. I This cover J is secured to the cap I by thestraps J On the upper surface of the head preferably integrally formed therewith, is a neck or standard K,

to which is secured the plate L from which depend the rigid strapsor bars M connected into the ring M at their lower ends. Over this ring are engaged U-shaped links N, with which the upper ends of the .cables or cords O O engage, the cables 0 being secured in the end bars A of the sections of the platform, at or near the end thereof, while the cables 0 are, secured to said end bars, at or near the middle thereof, passing between the sides, so as not to interfere with the seating room, or with a free passage wayaround the aisle. The standard K preferably extends above the plate L in the shape of a pole P which may serve as a flag pole.

From the outer railing E" I preferably extend the curved arms P connected together at their outer ends by the rail Q to which is secured the lower edge of the canvas R, the

upper portion thereof being secured to the 9 at the same time giving it a wave-like motion,

IOO

. device is in operation, it is done by turning a as shown in dotted lines in Fig.2inimitation of the motion-of a boat, of which this motion is a very close reproduction, and this wave may be changed at will to short quick gyrations, or to give the effect of long billows. To check this gyrating motion and to support the platform while people are getting on and off, I employ the following construction:

S are step frames arranged outside'of the platform and of a height equal to the normal height of the platform. Extending from the top of these frames are the inclined standards S having a substantially vertical portion S at the foot. Upon these standards slidingly engage the shoes S which, when the device is to be operated will fall to the lower end of the standard and have their upper faces arranged inline, or below-theline of the upper face of the-standards S, thus being entirely out of the way of the platform in its movement.

. If it is desired to apply the brake while the lever T arranged centrally of the device in convenient proximity to the operator, to which lever is secured cords T, passing over pulley blocks T and over sheaves a Z) on the outer face of the inclined standards and connected to the shoes S The movement of the lever T will draw upon the cords and lift the shoe up the standard so that the rail plate D on the rail D of the platform will strike against the upper face thereof and check the oscillations or gyrations of theplatform and at thesame time act as a'brake to stop it from revolving. When these shoes are at their upper position they support the top of the platform in line-with the-steps, as shown in-Fig. 4

topermit of ready 'ingressand egress by way of'the steps.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a merry-go-round, the combination with a platform suspended from a central standard free to revolve and swing, a plurality-of fixed standards, an adjustable brake on each of the fixed standards below the plane of the platform adapted to engage the platform, and means for adjusting the brakes substantially as described.

2. In a merry-go-round, the combination of the ring shaped platform suspended from a central standard free to revolve and to swing, of inclined standards beneath the platform out of its line of movement shoes sliding thereon, and actuating devices to move the shoes up the standards to support and brake the platform, substantially as described.

3. In a merry-go-round, the combination of the ring shaped platform suspended from a central standard free to revolve and swing, of inclined standards S under the platform out of the line of its swinging movement, the verticalsection S at the foot of the standards,

the shoes 8 sliding on the standards, cords in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE L. BARNHAR'P.

Witnesses:

JAMES WHITTEMORE,

L. J. WHITTEMORE. 

